David's Astronomy Pages
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Notes (S1166) |
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Notes (S1168) |
Main aims
Equipment & Software
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Summary Plots & Logs
Observing Plan |
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Observing Result |
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Dome & Scope Slewing Performance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Slew/Centering Performance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Guiding Performance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sky Conditions (Locate Frames) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Night Sky Summary Plot Top axis: Sky Brightness at Zenith (in ADU/s) Lefthand axis: Local Time (hh LT). Righthand axis: Sun Altitude (degs) |
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Actual Weather vs Pre-Session Weather Forecast | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Session Event Log | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Session Alerts & Alarms | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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DriverInfo Get
Pulsar Observatories Dome Drive Version: 6.3
DriverVersion Get
6.3
Connected Syncing Syncing 0, RX: 0 ,Port: COM3
Connected
Syncing Syncing 1, RX: 1 ,Port: COM3
Connected Syncing Syncing 2,
RX: 2 ,Port: COM3
Connected Syncing Syncing 3, RX: 3 ,Port: COM3
Connected
Syncing Syncing 4, RX: 4 ,Port: COM3
CommandString
TX VER
CommandString RX 1.51
CommandString TX V 1
CommandString
RX 91.2 0 0.000000 0.0 0 1 970 14999 -2 -100 7504 2526 1 0
CommandString
TX HOME ?
CommandString RX 0
CommandString
TX PARK ?
CommandString RX 0
> Observatory Shutter
Info Shutter is closing (13:06:48)
> Observatory
Shutter Info Shutter has closed
(13:07:31, closing time 43s)
13:06:43.428: Dome - Statuses: Get ShutterStatus: shutterOpen
13:06:43.428: Dome - Statuses: Get Slewing: False
13:06:47.753: Dome -
Commands: CloseShutter: (done)
13:06:47.753: Dome - Statuses: Get
ShutterStatus: shutterClosing
13:06:47.753: Dome - Statuses: Get Slewing:
True
13:06:47.753: Dome - Statuses: Get ShutterStatus: shutterClosing
13:06:47.754: Dome - Statuses: Get Slewing: True
13:06:47.754: Dome -
Commands: Started fast polling every 1000 ms.
... Intermediate messages
(all shutterClosing) ...
13:07:30.806: Dome - Statuses: Get
ShutterStatus: shutterClosing
13:07:30.806: Dome - Statuses: Get Slewing:
True
13:07:31.804: Dome - Statuses: Get ShutterStatus: shutterClosing
13:07:31.804: Dome - Statuses: Get Slewing: True
13:07:32.810: Dome -
Statuses: Get ShutterStatus: shutterClosed
13:07:32.810: Dome - Statuses:
Get Slewing: False
13:07:33.806: Dome - Statuses: Get ShutterStatus:
shutterClosed
13:07:33.806: Dome - Statuses: Get Slewing: False
13:07:34.805: Dome - Statuses: Get ShutterStatus: shutterClosed
13:07:34.805: Dome - Statuses: Get Slewing: False
13:07:35.821: Dome -
Commands: Returning to normal polling every 5000 ms.
> Observatory Shutter Info
Shutter is closing (12:49:38)
> Observatory Shutter Info
Shutter has closed (12:50:20, closing time 43s)
12:49:36.621: Dome - Statuses: Get ShutterStatus:
shutterOpen
12:49:36.621: Dome - Statuses: Get Slewing: False
12:49:36.980: Dome - Commands: CloseShutter: (done)
12:49:36.980: Dome -
Statuses: Get ShutterStatus: shutterClosing
12:49:36.980: Dome -
Statuses: Get Slewing: True
12:49:36.980: Dome - Statuses: Get
ShutterStatus: shutterClosing
12:49:36.981: Dome - Statuses: Get Slewing:
True
12:49:36.981: Dome - Commands: Started fast polling every 1000 ms.
Intermediate messages (all shutterClosing)
12:51:07.098: Dome - Statuses:
Get ShutterStatus: shutterClosing
12:51:07.098: Dome - Statuses: Get
Slewing: True
12:51:08.097: Dome - Statuses: Get ShutterStatus:
shutterClosing
12:51:08.098: Dome - Statuses: Get Slewing: True
12:51:09.084: Dome - Statuses: Get ShutterStatus: shutterClosed
12:51:09.084: Dome - Statuses: Get Slewing: False
12:51:10.083: Dome -
Statuses: Get ShutterStatus: shutterClosed
12:51:10.083: Dome - Statuses:
Get Slewing: False
12:51:12.100: Dome - Commands: Returning to normal
polling every 5000 ms.
12:49:35.797 Volatile 100.0 0
0.000000 100.0 0 0 960 14959 -3 516 8251 2510 0 0
(0 = Open)
12:49:36.621 Slewing Get True ( Actually
this is a continuing logging bug - Slewing is False)
12:49:36.621
ShutterStatus 0 (ie Open)
12:49:36.974 CommandString TX CLOSE
12:49:36.980 CommandString RX A
12:49:36.980 CloseShutter Request sent
12:49:36.980 ShutterStatus 3 (ie Closing)
12:49:36.980 Slewing Get
True (this seems to indeed mean Slewing is True)
12:49:37.764
Volatile 100.0 0 0.000000 100.0 0 3 960 14971 -2 516 8251 2510 0 0
12:49:37.991 ShutterStatus 3 (ie Closing)
Intermediate
messages (all ShutterStatus 3 ie Closing)
12:51:07.098
ShutterStatus 3 (ie Closing)
12:51:08.020 CommandString RX 100.0 0
0.000000 100.0 0 3 880 14684 -350 516 9247 2491 0 0
12:51:08.052 Volatile
100.0 0 0.000000 100.0 0 3 880 14684 -350 516 9247 2491 0 0
(3 = Closing)
12:51:08.097 ShutterStatus 3 (ie Closing)
12:51:08.996 CommandString RX 100.0 0 0.000000 100.0 0 1 950 14936 -2 516
8500 2491 0 0 (1 = Closed)
12:51:09.028 Volatile 100.0 0 0.000000
100.0 0 1 950 14936 -2 516 8500 2491 0 0
(1= Closed)
12:51:09.084 ShutterStatus 1 (ie Closed)
Open Dome 2023-11-15 13:24 (Local, GMT)
> Observatory Shutter Info Shutter is opening(13:24:57
Open Dome... Ok Dome is opening (Clarity: 42.5, Stars: 0, Rain: -1.2, Wind: 3.2)
> Observatory Shutter Info Shutter is open (13:25:36, opening time 40s)
Open Dome... Ok Dome is open (Opening time 43s)
Close Dome 2023-11-15 13:26 (Local, GMT)
> Observatory Shutter Info Shutter is closing (13:26:04, open time 28s)
Close Dome... Ok Dome is closing
(Clarity: 42.9, Stars: 0, Rain: -1.2, Wind: 3.3)
> Observatory Shutter Info Shutter has closed
(13:26:47, closing time 43s)
Dome Safety Error Dome closure hasn't finished after 90s
Check Shutter Ok Hub reports dome is Closing (3), PulsarLog reports Closing (3)
13:26:01.218
ShutterStatus 0 (Open)
13:26:02.832 Volatile 110.0 0 0.000000
0.0 0 0 870 14646 -4 1 8998 2441 0 0 (0= Opening)
13:26:03.186 CommandString TX CLOSE
13:26:03.279 CommandString RX A
13:26:03.279 CloseShutter Request sent
13:26:03.279 ShutterStatus 3
(Closing)
13:26:03.838 Volatile 110.0 0 0.000000 0.0 0 3 870 14903 -3 1
8749 2441 0 0 (3= Closing)
13:26:05.287 ShutterStatus 3
(Closing)
Intermediate messages (all ShutterStatus 3
ie Closing)
13:27:54.102 CommandString RX 110.0 0 0.000000 0.0 0 1
940 14878 -2 1 8749 2422 0 0 (1 = Closed)
13:27:54.134
Volatile 110.0 0 0.000000 0.0 0 1 940 14878 -2 1 8749 2422 0 0
(1 = Closed)
13:27:54.403 Connected Get True
13:27:54.403 Connected
Get True
13:27:54.403 ShutterStatus 1
Open Dome 2023-11-15 16:30 (Local, GMT)
> Observatory Shutter Info Shutter is opening (16:30:40, close time 3.1 hour)
Open Dome... Ok Dome is opening (Clarity: 39.4, Stars: 0, Rain: -0.9, Wind: 2.0)
> Observatory Shutter Info Shutter is open (16:31:20, opening time 40s)
Open Dome Warning Dome opening hasn't finished after 60s
Open Dome Fail Dome opening hasn't finished after 90s
16:30:36.551
ShutterStatus 1 (Closed)
16:30:39.221 Volatile 91.2 0 0.000000 91.2
0 1 950 14920 -2 -1315 3519 2404 0 0 (1= Closed)
16:30:39.335
CommandString TX OPEN
16:30:39.348 CommandString RX A
16:30:39.348
OpenShutter Request sent
16:30:39.348 ShutterStatus 2 (Opening)
16:30:39.350 ShutterStatus 2 (Opening)
16:30:40.228 Volatile 91.2 0
0.000000 91.2 0 2 950 14920 -2 -1315 3519 2404 0 0 (2= Opening)
16:30:40.349 ShutterStatus 2 (Opening)
Intermediate
messages (all ShutterStatus 2 ie Opening)
16:32:23.452
ShutterStatus 2 (Opening)
16:32:23.452 Volatile 91.2 0 0.000000
91.2 0 2 840 14582 -348 -1315 4266 2390 0 0 (2=
Opening)
16:32:24.396 CommandString RX 91.2 0 0.000000 91.2 0 0 940 14873
-3 -1315 3768 2390 0 0 (0 =Open)
16:32:24.428 Volatile 91.2 0
0.000000 91.2 0 0 940 14873 -3 -1315 3768 2390 0 0
(0 =Open)
16:32:24.460 ShutterStatus 0 (Open)
16:32:25.388
Volatile 91.2 0 0.000000 91.2 0 0 940 14873 -3 -1315 3768 2390 0 0 0
(0 =Open)
16:32:25.468 ShutterStatus 0 (Open)
Update 2023-11-16
At the end of session S1167,
the dome closing operation was also anomalous with the shutter taking 44s to
physically close, but with ShutterStatus remaining in the 'Closing' state
for 85s (ie for 41s after the shutter was actually closed).
A test
was made the following morning (2023-11-16) in which the shutter was opened
and closed directly from the Pulsar Client Program (so no
DeviceHub / ASCOM involvement). Results were similar for both opening and
closing tests and the cases the previous day. The Shutter took 41s and 44s
to physically open & close respectively, but the Pulsar Client showed the
shutter state to be 'Shutter opening' and 'Shutter closing' for some 90-120s
range.
This would seem to point to the problem being with the new
1.51 firmware, or a comms incompatibility between the new Dome firmware
(1.51) and the Shutter firmware (1.25).
SlewToAzimuth 190 (Test at 13:31)
Logs from yesterday's Slewing Tests were examined today
Device Hub
activity logs records SlewToAzimuth 190 request at 13:31:27. Because slewing
doesn't immediately become true, and the property returns False
DeviceHub thinks the SlewToAzimuth has been achieved, and changes polling to
standard rate. I pick this up as an anomalous slew and I can see parts of
the ASCOM Dome Compliance run are not completed. Only at
5s after the request does DeviceHub pick up that the Dome is slewing.
(Early time Az changes are lost to my client program, Az is seen to suddenly
jump from Az 110 to Az 119.8).
13:31:22.439: Dome -
Statuses: Get Azimuth: 110 (Starting Az: 110)
13:31:22.439:
Dome - Statuses: Get Slewing: False
13:31:27.047: Dome - Commands:
SlewToAzimuth (190.00000°): (slew started)
13:31:27.049: Dome - Statuses:
Get Slewing: False (this should immediately go to True but doesn't
13:31:27.049: Dome - Statuses: Get Azimuth: 110
13:31:27.049: Dome -
Statuses: Get Slewing: False
13:31:27.049: Dome - Commands: Started fast
polling every 1000 ms.
13:31:27.049: Dome - Statuses: Get Azimuth: 110
13:31:27.050: Dome - Statuses: Get Slewing: False (slewing still returning
as False)
13:31:27.050: Dome - Commands: Returning to normal polling
every 5000 ms.
13:31:32.064: Dome - Statuses: Get Azimuth: 119.8
13:31:32.065: Dome - Statuses: Get Slewing: True (Slewing only
recognised as True, 5s after Slew request)
13:31:33.065: Dome - Statuses:
Get Azimuth: 121.9
13:31:33.065: Dome - Statuses: Get Slewing:
True
13:31:34.060: Dome - Statuses: Get Azimuth: 124.3
13:31:34.060:
Dome - Statuses: Get Slewing: True
Immediate Messages
(Slewing = True, Azimuth gradually increasing)
13:32:04.090: Dome -
Statuses: Get Azimuth: 188.9
13:32:04.090: Dome - Statuses: Get Slewing:
True
13:32:05.090: Dome - Statuses: Get Azimuth: 189.8
13:32:05.090:
Dome - Statuses: Get Slewing: True
13:32:06.090: Dome - Statuses: Get
Azimuth: 190 (Destination Az: 190 )
13:32:06.091: Dome
- Statuses: Get Slewing: False (Slewing Stopped)
13:32:07.104: Dome
- Statuses: Get Azimuth: 190
13:32:07.105: Dome - Statuses: Get Slewing:
False
Pulsar Log records SlewToAzimuth request at 13:31:27
13:31:21.643 Volatile 110.0 0 0.000000 0.0 0 1 940 14907 -2 1 8500 2422 0 0
13:31:22.439 Azimuth Get Azimuth = 110
13:31:22.439 Slewing Get True
(Slewing state in log is completely reliable as it is always reported as
True here though Dome is not slewing)
13:31:22.666 Volatile 110.0 0
0.000000 0.0 0 1 940 14907 -2 1 8500 2422 0 0
13:31:23.674 Volatile 110.0
0 0.000000 0.0 0 1 940 14907 -2 1 8500 2422 0 0
13:31:24.697 Volatile
110.0 0 0.000000 0.0 0 1 940 14907 -2 1 8500 2422 0 0
13:31:25.705
Volatile 110.0 0 0.000000 0.0 0 1 940 14907 -2 1 8500 2422 0 0
13:31:26.729 Volatile 110.0 0 0.000000 0.0 0 1 940 14907 -2 1 8500 2422 0 0
13:31:27.030 SlewToAzimuth Start 190 (SlewToAzimuth request
received)
13:31:27.030 CommandString TX GO 190
13:31:27.047
CommandString RX A
13:31:27.047 SlewToAzimuth Request sent
13:31:27.049 Azimuth Get Azimuth = 110 (Dome hasn't physically / measurable
started to move but Client expects to see Slewing=True at this point)
13:31:27.049 Slewing Get True
(Client is sent False at this point though reported as True in this Pulsar
Log)
13:31:27.049 Azimuth Get Azimuth = 110
13:31:27.049 Slewing Get
True (Client is sent
False at this point though reported as True in this Pulsar Log)
13:31:27.049 Azimuth Get Azimuth = 110
13:31:27.050 Slewing Get True
(Client is sent False at this point though reported as True in this Pulsar
Log)
13:31:27.049 Azimuth Get Azimuth = 110
13:31:27.049 Slewing Get
True (Client is sent
False at this point though reported as True in this Pulsar Log)
13:31:27.050 Slewing Get True
(Slewing state in log is unreliable as it is always reported as True even
when Dome is definately not slewing)
13:31:27.704 CommandString RX 110.9
1 0.000000 190.0 1 1 940 14907 -2 60 8500 2422 0 0 (Dome
is moving at this point)
13:31:27.927 Volatile 110.9 1 0.000000 190.0 1 1
940 14907 -2 60 8500 2422 0 0
13:31:28.936 Volatile 113.3 1 0.000000
190.0 1 1 940 14907 -2 227 8500 2422 0 0
13:31:29.911 Volatile 115.6 1
0.000000 190.0 1 1 940 14907 -2 390 8500 2422 0 0 (Early
Time Az changes not available to end Client)
13:31:30.871 Volatile 117.6
1 0.000000 190.0 1 1 940 14907 -2 531 8500 2422 0 0
13:31:31.846 Volatile
119.8 1 0.000000 190.0 1 1 940 14907 -2 687 8500 2422 0 0
13:31:32.064
Azimuth Get Azimuth = 119.8
13:31:32.065 Slewing Get False
(Log reports Slewing False even though Dome is Slewing and the Client is
sent Slewing=True)
13:31:32.838 Volatile 121.9 1 0.000000 190.0 1 1 940
14907 -2 830 8500 2422 0 0
13:31:33.065 Azimuth Get Azimuth = 121.9
13:31:33.065 Slewing Get False (Log reports Slewing False
even though Dome is Slewing and the Client is sent Slewing=True)
13:31:33.814 CommandString RX 124.3 1 0.000000 190.0 1 1 940 14907 -2 999
8500 2422 0 0
ASCOM Driver 6.3.10
A comparison between new ASCOM
Driver 6.3.10 and previous 6.3.x version.
Required ASCOM Behaviour | Previous Version (6.3.x), 2021 | Version 6.3.10, 2023 | Notes | ||
1) | Dome.Slewing property should be True if
any part of the dome is currently moving or False if no part is currently moving |
Slewing stayed False when Shutter was Opening or Closing |
Slewing now correctly becomes True when the Shutter is Opening or Closing |
Confirmed fixed. | |
2) | Dome.Slewing property should become True
immediately upon receiving SlewToAzimuth, OpenShutter or CloseShutter |
||||
Things associated with the Pulsar ASCOM log | |||||
3) | Logfile should report the full version details | Log reports : DriverInfo Get Pulsar Observatories Dome Drive Version: 6.3 (spelling: Drive should be Driver) |
Log reports : DriverInfo Get Pulsar Observatories Dome Drive Version: 6.3 (spelling: Drive should be Driver) |
Still an issue. I'd expect to see Version 6.3.10 for the current driver (this may be an ASCOM limitation ?) |
|
4) | Logfile should report the same Slewing state that it is sending to the Client | Log reports Slewing False when Dome is Slewing and reports Slewing True when the Dome is not slewing (even though correct values are sent to client) | Log reports Slewing True when Dome is Slewing and reports Slewing True when the Dome is not slewing (even though correct values are sent to client at all times) | Issue partly fixed but still a half-defect |
Update 2024-01-05
A new version of Pulsar Software
and new version of ASCOM driver were supplied by Pulsar Observatories and
installed onto the Observatory Computer today (2024-01-05). (See
Pulsar Dome -
Software Update (Firmware 1.52 & ASCOM Driver 6.4), 2024-01-05 )
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Condensation & dew inside the Observatory's AllSky Camera's Hemisphere
has been an outgoing issue in past 2-3 years and a source of much
frustration, sometimes degrading the quality of Aurora Imaging/Monitoring
and/or leading to the unreliablity in the AllSky Star Count provided to the
Observatory Control Program undertaking automated observing/imaging.
After re-reading a 2019 conversation about "Oculus All Sky Camera and Dome -
Condensation Problem" on the Stargazers Lounge forum (https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/325447-oculus-all-sky-camera-and-dome-condensation-problem/)
it was noticed that a follow-up post from PhotoGav covered a 'solution' that
had been supplied to him by Terry (Platt) of Starlight Xpress.
Original post from PhotoGav, 2018-11-11
"As you can clearly see from this image, I have a condensation problem inside the dome of my Oculus All Sky Camera. After a particularly rainy period it invariably has condensation inside the acrylic dome. I cleaned the inside of the dome only two days ago, it poured yesterday and overnight and now I have condensation. I have the internal dew heater on a timer to come on at nighttime only every night. The camera lens is fine. The dome is not fine! It does evaporate eventually, but takes quite a while and obscures a clear view for the start of a night and beyond."
Later post/reply from PhotoGav, 2019-02-08
"I thought I would update this thread as I am delighted to report a successful solution has been supplied by Starlight Xpress. Terry at SX was very helpful and after discussion and various failed experiments he sent me a new base plate that has two 1 cm holes drilled in it. I swapped out the base plate and for once I was happy that it rained. The good news is that the dome no longer mists up inside. I’ve run it for the last few nights and it continues to work perfectly. So, ventilation was indeed the issue. .." .
PhotoGav's issue sounds very similar to the issue I experience with my
own Oculus AllSky Camera and the mention of a solution provided by Starlight
Xpress (the makers of the Oculus AllSky Camera) suggests this is something I
should probably consider myself.
So today (2023-11-15) I decided to
bit the bullet and have a go at implementing the same fix to my
Observatory's Oculus Camera, and drilled two 1cm diameter holes in the base
plate of the camera to increase ventilation in the manner described by
PhotoGav's posting.
Secondary aims for bringing the camera down from
its mounting was to see if there was an way of retrofitting a small computer
fan inside the casing to further increase ventilation and to also check the
camera's dew heating system. As it turned out things didn't go completely to
plan, but the two 1 cm diameter did get drilled and the camera has been
returned to its mounting again.
An update will be added later to with information about whether these
ventilation holes improve the condensation/dew issue or not.
There is
a slight concern that the two new holes provide an easy route for more
critters to enter the camera/dome. On the other hand it might allow adult
earwigs (which originally entered the camera as small young earwigs) a way
of getting out instead of clambering all over the fish eye lens as they
sometimes have.
The sheared bolts unfortunately mean there is
no way to get into the camera body (unless the broken bolt ends are drilled
out). This prevented an examination as to whether the addition of a computer
fan in future was a feasible retrofit.
There is one school of thought
that says there should be a gap around the bottom edges of the
hemisphere/dome to allow ventilation but in my case I suspect that original
small patches of velcro to allow this have worn away or lost over the years
(only one partial section remains). This might explain why the
condensation/dewing seems to have been worse in the last 2-3 years than
during the first few years of using the camera.
Supply of 12v power to the AllSky Camera's dew heater was checked at the socket end using a desk-lamp temporarily plugged into the Zigbee Smart Plug that is used for controlling the dew heater and turned on/off using Zigbee, and at the plug end using a voltmeter which indicated 12-13v. Of concern is that during visits to the Camera to wipe hemisphere dry, I have being having any sensation of warmth around the top of the camera. Last time I remember feeling it warm was back in the spring. Have the dew heaters failed ?
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Issue: Target Circle for BL Lac is mis-positioned
on JPG Pictures (S1167, 01:19)
Description
Target Circle for BL Lac is mispositioned on Main Frame JPG pictures
(but correct on Locate and Focus Pictures). The circle is
mispositioned by around 35". In other sessions BL Lac target circle
has been correctly drawn. Replaying the target in AstroMain On-the-Fly
Observing at a later time (2023-11-17) showed that the issue was repeatable.
Images below shows Realtime JPG pictures for the Locate 3 image (left)
and for 1st Main Image (right), with BL Lac Target Circles (in blue)
The
blue circle in the lefthand picture shows the position of BL Lac object. The
blue circle is right-hand image is clearly mispositioned.
The Target Circle & Host Ellipse for AT 2023uhx/ NGC 3893 were also
mispositioned in JPG pictures and is probably a further example of the same
issue (S1167, 00:59).
Analysis
Replaying the BL
Lac target in AstroMain OnTheFly Observing (using Target ID 17 & Images
1167249-54) showed that the bug was repeatable (a pleasant surprise as ,
replays typically fail to replicate ConvertFitsToJpg() bugs).
The replay produced the following error for each main frames
(the error wasn't reported during live session- is the error a sideeffect of
image substitution used for the replay or is the report of this error one
that is specifically withheld during live sessions ?
ImageShift : Fail Not enough stars (nStars 8, n 0)
Examining log files showed that both test session and the live session contain messages like
23:18:15.82 | GCVS BL
Lac Calc ImageShift(WrtLoc) Fail | Not enough
stars (nStars 8, n 0)
indicating that the report message is
intentionally withheld during the live session.
Comparing the
Locate 3 Picture with the Picture from the first Main Frame shows that the
BL Lac Target Circle is positioned in exactly the same XY location.
In the Locate 3 Picture the Circle honors the position of the BL Lac object,
but it doesn't in the Main Frame picture. Stars shift noticeably
between the two pictures and with the Calc ImageShift failing it explains
why, without an Image Shift correction, the Target Circle is
mis-positioned in the Main Frame pictures. The Locate
Frame and Main Frame pictures have plenty of stars and the method of finding
stars and calculating ImageShift should have been successful. Examing raw
FITS images the BL Lac object shifts 25.7 px (36.0") between Locate 3 and
Focus Frame, or 25.4 px (35.6" ) between Locate 3 and 1st Main Frame.
Even though the physical shift is similar in both cases the shift
calculation is successfully performed for the Focus Frame Image but fails
for the Main Frame Image. One hypothesis might be that the brightest
stars in Main Frame picture are different because it is taken with R filter,
instead of the C filter using by Locate 3 and Focus Frame Images. Another
hypothesis is that due to the relatively large image shift (35-36"), there
is greater risk of a dimmer star interferring with star offset
determinations in the longer 60s exposures used by Main Frames.
Examining MatchBrightestStar results for 1st Main Frame in AstroMain 3.64.8
(which fixes 'duplicated Star 1 and Star 2' bug) we see the following :
1 , X: 102.5, Y: 92.7, ClosestOffset: 25.6, OffsetX:
25.6, OffsetY: 0.7
2 , X: 165.0, Y: 128.4,
ClosestOffset: 25.6, OffsetX: 25.6, OffsetY: 0.6
3 , X: 357.2, Y: 279.8, ClosestOffset: 24.5, OffsetX: -16.9, OffsetY:
17.8
4 , X: 590.8, Y: 465.2, ClosestOffset: 10.5, OffsetX:
-8.0, OffsetY: -6.8
5 , X: 37.0, Y: 293.3,
ClosestOffset: 24.3, OffsetX: 3.3, OffsetY: -24.1
6 ,
X: 446.7, Y: 91.9, ClosestOffset: 19.0, OffsetX: -8.6, OffsetY:
-17.0
7 , X: 658.8, Y: 213.7, ClosestOffset: 25.4, OffsetX:
25.4, OffsetY: 0.7
8 , X: 362.9, Y: 303.5,
ClosestOffset: 23.0, OffsetX: 6.9, OffsetY: 22.0
Of these matches only 3 matches (stars 1,2, 7) with Offsets of
25.4-25.6 pixels reflect 'correctly matched' stars. The other 5 rows are
mismatches.
The Median offset is calculated to be 5.2 (X: 5.1, Y:
0.6) and none of the stars have an offset anywhere close to 5.2 and hence
the routine's judges that there are not enough stars to determine a shift.
Code was modified to show which particular Star in the new image was
being matching and where it ranked in term of brightest to dimmest star in
the image, and the target replayed with the following results for Main Image
Frame 1
1 , X: 102.5, Y: 92.7, ClosestOffset:
25.6, OffsetX: 25.6, OffsetY: 0.7, MatchedStar: 0/95
2 , X: 165.0, Y: 128.4, ClosestOffset: 25.6, OffsetX: 25.6, OffsetY:
0.6, MatchedStar: 1/95
3 , X: 357.2, Y: 279.8, ClosestOffset:
24.5, OffsetX: -16.9, OffsetY: 17.8, MatchedStar: 29/95
4 ,
X: 590.8, Y: 465.2, ClosestOffset: 10.5, OffsetX: -8.0, OffsetY:
-6.8, MatchedStar: 93/95
5 , X: 37.0, Y: 293.3,
ClosestOffset: 24.3, OffsetX: 3.3, OffsetY: -24.1, MatchedStar:
35/95
6 , X: 446.7, Y: 91.9, ClosestOffset: 19.0, OffsetX:
-8.6, OffsetY: -17.0, MatchedStar: 79/95
7 , X: 658.8, Y: 213.7,
ClosestOffset: 25.4, OffsetX: 25.4, OffsetY: 0.7,
MatchedStar: 7/95
8 , X: 362.9, Y: 303.5, ClosestOffset: 23.0,
OffsetX: 6.9, OffsetY: 22.0, MatchedStar: 32/95
Looking at the new revised table listing that shows the relative
brightness of the matched star (based on its position within the inventory
list) we can see for example that the 3rd brightest star in reference image
was matched to the 29th brightest star in the new image, the 4th brightest
star if matched with the 93rd brightest star etc.
The findings
confirm that what the source of the problem is.
Conclusion
Fix
Issue is fixed in AstroMain 3.64.8 on 2023-11-18 by modifying the
CalcImageShift() routine to preferentially look for the closest star to each
reference star position that is one of the top 12 brightest stars in the new
image.
Running the new AstroMain version and again
replying the BL Lac target from the S1167 session produces JPG Pictures for
the Main Image Frames that are correct:
The blue target circle in
right hand picture showing the 1st Main Image frame is now correctly
positioned.
The table of matched stars for the 1st Main Image frame shows that stars
have been correctly match and show consistent shifts in the narrrow range
25.4 to 25.6 pixels.
1 , X: 102.5, Y: 92.7,
ClosestOffset: 25.6, OffsetX: 25.6, OffsetY: 0.7, MatchedStar: 0/95
2 ,
X: 165.0, Y: 128.4, ClosestOffset: 25.6, OffsetX: 25.6, OffsetY: 0.6,
MatchedStar: 1/95
3 , X: 357.2, Y: 279.8, ClosestOffset: 25.6, OffsetX:
25.6, OffsetY: 0.8, MatchedStar: 2/95
4 , X: 590.8, Y: 465.2,
ClosestOffset: 25.5, OffsetX: 25.5, OffsetY: 0.9, MatchedStar: 3/95
5 ,
X: 37.0, Y: 293.3, ClosestOffset: 25.5, OffsetX: 25.5, OffsetY: 0.8,
MatchedStar: 5/95
6 , X: 446.7, Y: 91.9, ClosestOffset: 25.5,
OffsetX: 25.5, OffsetY: 0.6, MatchedStar: 6/95
7 , X: 658.8, Y: 213.7,
ClosestOffset: 25.4, OffsetX: 25.4, OffsetY: 0.7, MatchedStar: 7/95
8 ,
X: 362.9, Y: 303.5, ClosestOffset: 25.6, OffsetX: 25.6, OffsetY: 0.9,
MatchedStar: 8/95
A replay of NGC 3893 w/AT 2023uhx confirms that the fix has also worked with this target set.
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This Web Page: | Notes - Session 1167 (2023-11-15) |
Last Updated : | 2024-09-27 |
Site Owner : | David Richards |
Home Page : | David's Astronomy Web Site |